Singapore Maritime Foundation’s MaritimeONE Summit champions AI and digital twin innovations from student teams in 2025 Final
At the MaritimeONE Case Summit 2025 Grand Finals and Award Ceremony held on 14 November 2025, the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) celebrated the ingenuity and interdisciplinary talent of tertiary students from Singapore’s leading universities and polytechnics. The event, graced by Mr Loh Khum Yean, Deputy Chairman of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), showcased innovative, technology-driven solutions developed in response to pressing maritime industry challenges. The summit, held annually in partnership with key maritime organisations such as ARROW Asia, MPA, NorthStandard, and Ocean Network Express (ONE), once again underscored the crucial role of nurturing young talent for the sector’s future.
The MaritimeONE Case Summit invited teams to tackle four major challenge statements reflecting real-world industry concerns. These ranged from augmenting shipbroking with AI and market intelligence, enhancing port efficiency through Maritime Digital Twin technologies, addressing emerging marine risks, including underwriting nuclear-powered vessels, to crafting strategies to build a future-ready maritime workforce. The champions this year notably included teams from prominent Singaporean public universities and, for the first time, a polytechnic team specializing in applied AI and analytics, marking an inclusive shift towards diverse educational backgrounds in maritime innovation.
One highlight was the winning team for ARROW Asia’s challenge, MerryTime from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), which proposed AI-driven strategies to help Panamax dry bulk shipbrokers adapt amid evolving commodities markets, climate impacts, and regulatory complexities. “Engaging with these talented students has been a privilege as they brought fresh perspectives and creative solutions to the maritime sector,” said Mr Philipp Schulte-Westhof, Managing Director of ARROW Asia. The success of the team reflects a growing trend to harness AI and digital tools for market intelligence in maritime operations.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s challenge saw the polytechnic team Imagine Winning from Nanyang Polytechnic rise to the top with their practical solution utilising the Maritime Digital Twin platform. Their AI-powered tool, DockyAI, is designed to optimise vessel traffic management and berth utilisation, improving port efficiency and sustainability. Mr Ang Wee Keong, MPA’s Chief Executive, emphasised the value of such innovations, stating, “We are impressed by the quality and creativity of this year’s proposals… which make good use of the Maritime Digital Twin to enhance port operations in Singapore.”
Another focal point was NorthStandard’s challenge on underwriting nuclear-powered vessel risks, an emerging area as maritime decarbonisation gathers pace. NTU’s COSTA CREW team was awarded the top prize for their comprehensive risk assessments and strategic proposals, a testimony to the importance of addressing new maritime technologies and fuel sources from an insurance and risk management perspective. Mr Michael Hustler, Head of Asia Pacific at NorthStandard, praised the students’ analytical rigour and creativity, highlighting their contribution to shaping the understanding of future maritime risks.
Ocean Network Express posed a challenge centred on cultivating the next generation of maritime talent to meet evolving industry demands. The Tide Turner team, a collaboration between NTU and the National University of Singapore, won for their bold, practical strategies to foster adaptability, skills development, and career experiences in the sector. Mr Jeremy Nixon, CEO of ONE, lauded the summit’s role in helping to “nurture the next generation of maritime professionals who will drive digital transformation and sustainable growth across our industry.”
The MaritimeONE Case Summit 2025 drew 386 students across 119 teams, signalling a robust and growing engagement with maritime challenges among Singapore’s youth. SMF Chairman Hor Weng Yew noted the enthusiasm as a positive sign for the industry’s talent pipeline, thanking sponsors and partners for their support in creating a platform that not only stimulates interdisciplinary thinking but also bridges academia and industry. This focus on collaboration between students and shipping professionals is key to developing innovative, scalable solutions for a future-ready maritime ecosystem.
Overall, the summit reinforced the sector’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology, sustainable practices, and talent development. As the maritime landscape evolves with increasing digitalisation, environmental regulations, and new propulsion technologies, initiatives like the MaritimeONE Case Summit play a critical role in preparing Singapore’s youth to contribute effectively to the industry’s growth and resilience.